Despite progress over recent decades, third level colleges in the Republic still suffer from poor pupil/teacher ratios, the president of the University of Limerick (UL) has claimed.
Dr Roger Downer said some universities in America had a pupil/teacher ratio of 6:1. while at Queens University, Belfast, it was about 14:1. However, at UL and other Irish universities it was about 22:1.
"I do not have data on the funding situation in the other parts of the educational system but I do know the university system very well and the news is not good."
The issue of poor pupil/teacher ratios and large classes normally surfaces at primary level, but Dr Downer said it should also be tackled at third level.
The institutes of technology and the universities are currently pressing the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for more resources.
The recently departed provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Thomas Mitchell, said the increase in places at third level had not been matched by an increase in Government spending.
Dr Downer said: "We are proud of the education that we provide to our students but how much more effective could we be if we had twice, three times or four times the teaching resources".
"What surprises me is that there are not science graduates out there.
"Indeed one of the concerns that I have about the future sustainability of our economic performance is the disappointingly small number of secondary level students who are opting to study science and mathematics.
" Specialists in these fields are critical requirements for the modern economy and if we are not producing them we will be disadvantaged," he said.
"Without in any way detracting from the importance of other disciplines, I would like to ensure that special programmes are established to encourage students to study science and mathematics," he said.
Meanwhile, UL has released its graduate employment figures for 2000.
These show 68 per cent of graduates getting a job in the Republic upon graduation, 16 per cent working overseas, 8 per cent doing further study and 6 per cent "seeking employment".
The university also released statistics on its teaching courses.
These show that 66 per cent gained employment in the Republic, 11 per cent overseas, while 22 per cent went into further study.
About 1 per cent were "seeking employment".